Four staffers netted in gold missing case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 22 2024: SIT constituted to probe into looting of gold worth around Rs 4 crore from the Bank of Baroda (BOB) branch inside Manipur University complex, rounded up four staffers of the bank including its branch manager.

Among the arrested quartet include Ganga Ningombam wife of Nongmaithem Johnson of Kakching Makha Leikai, who is said to be senior manager of the branch and complainant of the case, and staff members namely Khaidem Jackychand (38) son of Kulla of Khurkhul Makha Leikai, Gary Nongmaithem (21) son of Somendro of Thongju Part-1, and Akoijam Renash (20) son of Premjit of Ningombam Awang Leikai.

According to a police source, the looting took place on September 12 at about 1.41 am .

Citing a report filed by branch manager Ganga at Singjamei police station on September 17 afternoon, the source said that the lock of the case vault of strong room was found broken when cashier of the bank opened the same for normal duty at about 10am on September 17.When the vault was checked by staff of the bank due to suspicion, some gold packets were found missing.

Immediately, staff of the bank checked the CCTV monitor kept at branch manager's chamber.

The monitor showed presence of two persons inside the chamber of the branch manager at about 1.41 am of September 12 .

No further footage could be examined as all the CCTV cameras were found in dark mode.

Based on the report, Singjamei PS registered a case under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and made spot enquiry of the Bank of Baroda branch.

As part of the investigation, a Special Investigation Team was formed and the team nabbed three staff of the bank Jackychand, Gary and Renash initially and later pulled up senior branch manager Ganga.

Jackychand, Gary and Renash were produced before a court on Saturday and remanded to police custody for five days while Ganga was produced before a court on Sunday and remanded to four days police custody.

Notably, the looting incident occurred amidst the intense agitation from September 9 by students and people in Imphal area and the road stretch from Singjamei to Canchipur was blocked for three consecutive days due to the agitation.

The district administration imposed curfew under Section 163 of BNSS to contain the situation during whieh the looting took occurred.

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